NEW YORK — It may not have attracted as much national attention as Barack Obama’s election victory a week earlier. But when President George W. Bush received the Intrepid Freedom Award at the Veterans’ Day reopening of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, there was still plenty of fanfare and media exposure. See Factor was responsible for keeping a tight ship with the stage roof system and lighting package. LD Michael Stiller called for a full HMI lighting package. See Factor worked with Wizard Studios and Eastern Stage Productions to bring the design to fruition, and provided a six-tower James Thomas Engineering roof system to accommodate the staging needs.
Along with the presentation of the award to President Bush, the Intrepid Veterans Day ceremony included performances by the USMC Drum and Bugle Corps and the laying of a ceremonial wreath in honor of American veterans by the President and former NASA astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Scott Carpenter. In addition, the Intrepid was re-christened by First Lady Laura Bush, who was assisted by Mrs. Sally Hoover Casale, whose grandmother first christened the ship in 1943.
An estimated 5,000 guests attended, including 2,500 veterans who were on site at Pier 86, Hudson River home of the Intrepid. After the ceremonies, the veterans marched from the Intrepid to 42nd Street and 5th Avenue to join with other veterans in New York's annual Veterans Day Parade.
The Intrepid aircraft carrier had a long military service life before welcoming more than 10 million visitors to its floating museum since it opened in 1982. Built to serve in World War II in 1943, Intrepid went on to serve as one of the primary recovery vessels for NASA, three tours of duty off Vietnam, and submarine surveillance in the North Atlantic during the Cold War. Today the ship's mission is to serve as an educational center and a monument to all who have served the U.S. in uniform.
For more information, please visit www.seefactor.com and www.intrepidmuseum.org.
